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Nursing Process: Approach to patient care

Nursing Process: Approach to patient care

The nursing process represents an important tool that assists nurses in systematic problem-solving, leading to a relatively patient-centered approach. This will enable health professionals in cancer management to make holistic assessments, identify problems with appropriate diagnoses, plan interventions, intervene appropriately, and continuously evaluate outcomes. The paper will explore the nursing process in the care of cancer patients, narrowing it to lung cancer by discussing aspects that include methods of screening, diagnosis, complications arising from treatments, and prevention. This paper also reflects on the American Cancer Society and interdisciplinarity’s contribution to enhancing nursing knowledge and practice.

Lung Cancer and Screening Methods

Among the most prevalent and deadly malignancies in humans is lung cancer. It dramatically impacts the presence and absence of people of various ages. The main subclasses include non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which has 85% prevalence, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which is more aggressive than NSCLC but has fewer cases, according to Schabath and Cote (2019). Screening is considered one of the important modalities to bring about early detection and thus provides timely intervention, thereby contributing to an improved survival rate. Among lung cancers, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is the preferred method as the preferred way of screening among those at high risk, especially current or former heavy smokers aged 55-80 years with a substantial history of smoking, as indicated by Lancaster et al. (2022). This has been proved in LDCT, which is effective in detecting asymptomatic disease early, thereby reducing mortality due to cancer of the lung. Although chest X-rays and sputum cytology have been used conventionally for a long period, they lack the sensitivity and specificity provided by LDCT. Effective screening allows diseases to be diagnosed much earlier, offers more treatment options, and improves patient outcomes.

Diagnostic Methods Across the Life Span

There are several methods for diagnosing lung cancer, each appropriate for different needs along the life span. In adults, imaging tests such as chest X-rays, computed tomography scans, and positron emission tomography scans are typically used to diagnose abnormal lung growth. In addition to this, certain unusual circumstances may allow the use of magnetic resonance imaging, particularly in assessing the tumor’s metastasis to other body parts, such as to the brain or spinal cord. All these diagnostic imaging techniques are generally the first-line investigations of malignancies and are useful for various age groups. Following the diagnosis, imaging is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis. Other biopsy techniques, such as bronchoscopy, needle biopsy, or surgical biopsy, are chosen based on tumor location and the patient’s health status. Biopsies are concerned with sampling tissues from the suspected area of cancerous growth and are then sent for analysis to check for malignant cells, as Kim et al. (2022) mentioned.

Notably, genetic and molecular studies have increasingly become integral in diagnosing cancers, as they identify mutations and markers at positions that could influence treatment decisions. For example, evaluating for anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangements or mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene aids in directing targeted therapy for NSCLC patients. These advanced diagnostic techniques improve precision in treatment selection, thus enhancing patient outcomes. Diagnostic approaches are altered based on age in that younger patients may, for example, more easily tolerate invasive diagnostic procedures. Because of these considerations, the clinician must tailor diagnostic techniques to account for age-related variables such as comorbidities and general health (Kim et al., 2022).

Staging Methods: Numerical and TNM Staging

Staging in cancer management is a method used to indicate the disease’s severity and helps guide the selection of treatment. Two major staging systems are used in lung cancer: numerical staging and Tumor, Node, Metastasis, or TNM classification (Carter & Erasmus, 2019). Numerical staging will classify cancers from Stage 0 to Stage IV. Stage 0 refers to cancer in situ, a condition in which the tumor is limited to its original location, while Stage IV describes very advanced cancer that has spread to distant organs. The TNM staging system went one step further by classifying tumors based on three major parameters of tumor dimensions and spread [T], invasion of regional lymph nodes [N], and spreading to a distant metastasis [M]. Scores are given to each one of these components, whereas the sum of these scores determines a general stage. TNM staging allows health professionals to conceptualize the nature and extent of one’s cancer and allow for the proper treatment strategy for each affected person.

Anticipated Outcomes and Complications of Care

Expected results in lung cancer treatment include anticipated, unexpected, and adverse. Anticipated effects may include shrinking of the tumor size, no further advancement of the disease, and improvement of the patient’s quality of life. Unexpected effects may result when a disease is advanced with treatments at an aggressive level or when the patient experiences severe side effects that were initially never anticipated. Potential adverse events may include treatment-related complications of organ toxicity, secondary infection related to immunosuppression, or severe drug reactions from chemotherapy, as indicated by Thai et al. (2021).

Consequently, common complications associated with lung cancer include pleural effusion, paraneoplastic syndromes, and superior vena cava syndrome (Thai et al., 2021). Pleural effusion is when fluid accumulates around the lungs and prevents breathing. It is treated by removing the excess fluid via thoracentesis, although if it persists, it may require chest tube insertion or pleurodesis. Tumors themselves cause paraneoplastic syndromes, but symptoms appear in some other parts of the body. The common symptoms can be hypercalcemia, muscle weakness, or neurological manifestations. They need symptomatic medications, too, involving cancer therapies as well to reduce the tumor size. Superior vena cava syndrome presents with compression or obstruction of the superior vena cava, which may cause facial and neck swelling along with upper extremity enlarging. Treatment may involve the use of radiotherapy to shrink the tumor size that’s obstructing to alleviate symptoms.

Treatment Side Effects and Management Strategies

The side effects of the treatments for lung cancer include but are not limited to, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. One of the most common issues is fatigue; this is a very big aspect of the engagement of the patient’s normal activities and quality of life. Management includes incorporating exercise programs, rest periods, and optimization of sleep hygiene. Another important side effect is the impairment of cognitive function, usually called “chemo brain,” characterized by disturbances in memory and concentration, as Oliveri et al. (2023) noted. Symptoms of this nature may be treated with cognitive rehabilitation techniques, such as memory aids and mental exercises. Other side effects include peripheral neuropathy, characterized as numbness or tingling from nerve damage in the extremities. Treatments for neuropathy include medication with gabapentin; acupuncture or physical therapy is a non-pharmacological treatment. Such symptom alleviation could improve the patient’s general well-being if complementary approaches such as meditation, yoga, or herbal remedies like ginseng against fatigue were integrated.

Lung Cancer Incidence Rates and Preventive Measures

Lung cancer, one of the most common tumors to be diagnosed, is also one of the main causes of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Men have greater rates of incidence and mortality than women. Smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer, making up over 85% of cases. Fortunately, as a result of continued efforts at smoking cessation, the incidence of lung cancer has been declining; however, it still affects a significant percentage of the population. Together, preventive measures are the foundation of any serious effort toward reduced morbidity and mortality from lung cancer. These would include measures to advocate for smoking cessation programs, regulate occupational carcinogen exposure, and improve air quality. Even vaccination against respiratory infections, including possibly the influenza vaccine, may decrease the risk of lung cancer in susceptible individuals.

American Cancer Society (ACS) Education and Support

Some of the most important work involving lung cancer patients is done by the American Cancer Society (ACS) in educating and supporting such patients. The ACS provides valuable resources on treatment options, management of side effects, and lifestyle changes that could hopefully decrease the chances of cancer recurrence. For patients needing logistical support, services like the ‘Road to Recovery’ program offer transportation to and from medical appointments. The ACS can also provide support groups, which are essential to the emotional and psychological analysis of living with cancer. However, these services can be recommended by nurses to their patients to ensure complete services that will lead to a better quality of life.

Interdisciplinary Research Approach

An interdisciplinary research approach is essential to further cancer care by incorporating knowledge from multiple disciplines into nursing. For instance, liberal arts and social sciences enhance understanding of patient experiences and cultural influences on health behaviors. In contrast, sciences and mathematics provide a foundation for analyzing epidemiology and treatment efficacy in cancer (Smye & Frangi, 2021). This integration of physical sciences helps develop new technologies to diagnose and treat cancer. Therefore, an approach like this may enhance nursing knowledge by considering the evidence that leads to better patient outcomes.

Utilization of the Nursing Process in Cancer Care

The nursing process means delivering safe, effective, and holistic care. The phases of the nursing process involved in caring for cancer patients include assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. During the assessment, the nurse gathers comprehensive data concerning the patient’s health history, symptoms, and risk factors. The data collected are used during the diagnosis phase of the nursing process to establish nursing diagnoses, which may include impaired gas exchange and anxiety. This shall involve planning individualized care plans that address the physical, emotional, and social aspects of care. The Implementation phase focuses on the delivery, medication administration, symptom management education, and emotional support. Lastly, the Evaluation phase provides assurance that the care plan is reviewed for effectiveness and modified appropriately in response to changing priorities toward optimal patient outcomes (Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2023).

Conclusion

The nursing process provides a systematic and organized method of managing care associated with cancer. Through the nursing process, nurses can deliver individualized and professional care along the disease continuum. Interdisciplinary research and resources from agencies such as the American Cancer Society provide valuable opportunities for nurses to contribute to improved cancer outcomes. Early detection and promotion of preventive interventions and holistically addressing complications represent evolving cancer care areas.

References

Carter, B. W., & Erasmus, J. J. (2019). Current Concepts in the Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Cancer (J. Hodler, R. A. Kubik-Huch, & G. K. von Schulthess, Eds.). PubMed; Springer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553878/

Kim, J., Lee, H., & Huang, B. W. (2022). Lung Cancer: Diagnosis, Treatment Principles, and Screening. American Family Physician, 105(5), 487–494. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35559635/

Lancaster, H. L., Heuvelmans, M. A., & Oudkerk, M. (2022). Low‐dose computed tomography lung cancer screening: Clinical evidence and implementation research. Journal of Internal Medicine, 292(1), 68–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13480

Oliveri, S., Lanzoni, L., Veldwijk, J., de Wit, G. A., Petrocchi, S., Janssens, R., Schoefs, E., Smith, M. Y., Smith, I., Nackaerts, K., Vandevelde, M., Louis, E., Decaluwé, H., De Leyn, P., Declerck, H., Petrella, F., Casiraghi, M., Galli, G., Garassino, M. C., & Girvalaki, C. (2023). Balancing benefits and risks in lung cancer therapies: patient preferences for lung cancer treatment alternatives. Frontiers in Psychology, 14(23), 1062830. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1062830

Schabath, M. B., & Cote, M. L. (2019). Cancer Progress and Priorities: Lung Cancer. Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Biomarkers, 28(10), 1563–1579. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-0221

Smye, S. W., & Frangi, A. F. (2021). Interdisciplinary research: shaping the healthcare of the future. Future Healthcare Journal, 8(2), 218–223. https://doi.org/10.7861/fhj.2021-0025

Thai, A. A., Solomon, B. J., Sequist, L. V., Gainor, J. F., & Heist, R. S. (2021). Lung Cancer. The Lancet, 398(10299), 535–554. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00312-3

Toney-Butler, T. J., & Thayer, J. M. (2023, April 10). Nursing process. National Library of Medicine; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499937/

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Question 


The nursing process is a tool that puts knowledge into practice. By utilizing this systematic problem-solving method, nurses can determine the health care needs of an individual and provide personalized care.

Write a paper (1,250–1,500 words) on cancer and the approach to care based on the utilization of the nursing process. Include the following in your paper:

  1. Identify a specific type of cancer and the available screening methods.
  2. Describe the different types of diagnostic methods across the life span utilized to identify possibility of cancer. Explain the numerical method and the tumor, node, metastasized (TNM) method of staging for cancer after the confirmed diagnosis.
  3. Anticipate outcomes of care (expected, unexpected, and potentially adverse). Describe at least three complications of your selected cancer, the side effects of treatment (excluding nausea, vomiting, and hair loss), and methods to lessen physical and psychological effects, including alternative measures and pharmaceutical/herbal options.
  4. Summarize cancer incident rates for your selected cancer. What preventative measures can be taken to reduce the yearly morbidity and mortality rate of various cancers in Americans?
  5. Explain what the American Cancer Society (ACS) might provide for education and support. What ACS services could a nurse recommend for these patients and why?
  6. How does an interdisciplinary research approach (which includes liberal arts, science studies, mathematics, social and physical sciences) build on the foundational nursing knowledge related to cancer research?
  7. Explain how the nursing process is utilized to provide safe and effective care for cancer patients across the life span. Your explanation should include how each of the five phases of the nursing process demonstrate the delivery of holistic and patient-focused care.

    Nursing Process: Approach to patient care

    Nursing Process: Approach to patient care

You are required to cite a minimum of four sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies and professional standards:

  • RN-BSN
  • 1.1: Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of nursing’s distinct perspective and where shared perspectives exist with other disciplines.
  • 1.2: Apply theory and research-based knowledge from nursing, the arts, humanities, and other sciences.
  • 10.2: Demonstrate a spirit of inquiry that fosters flexibility and professional maturity.

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